Top Materials for Cold Fusion Work

Are there any materials or commodities that might be boosted by widespread adoption of low energy nuclear reaction (LENR) or cold fusion technology? The answer to this question is possibly the widespread utilization of LENR might increase demand for some materials.

Nickel Mining

The first of these might be nickel most LENR processes including Andrea Rossi’s and Brillouin’s use nickel to achieve a reaction. The amount of nickel used is small but it is necessary. It must be noted here that since large scale use of LENR is not widespread we don’t know how much nickel would actually be used. My guess is that the demand for nickel would not be affected greatly by LENR.

Another metal that might be affected is Palladium which is a precious metal. It trades on the exchanges with gold, platinum and silver. As of September 14, 2012 Palladium was trading at $696 an ounce. Some LENR processes including Jet Energy’s use Palladium so their adoption could increase demand for this metal. It must be noted here that Palladium LENR could be cost prohibitive.

Palladium Mining in Russia

The other major element used in today’s LENR experiments is hydrogen which can be easily made from water if you have a lot of energy. There are also some new processes that greatly reduce the cost of hydrogen. So it is doubtful that a hydrogen market will appear because it is so easy to produce. There might be a hydrogen shortage early in the LENR age because supply couldn’t meet demand but as suppliers ramped up production it would disappear.

There are some other materials that could be affected by an LENR revolution. One of them is copper demand for it could increase because there would be more electronic devices around thanks to cheaper electricity. Demand for copper could also fall if the use of smaller LENR generators reduces demands on the electric grid and the need for lots of power lines.

Demand for steel and iron on the other hand could increase because lower energy costs would create more demand for those materials. People might want bigger cars or trains, ships might get bigger. Lower shipping costs might decrease consumer prices which will increase demand. There might be more construction and lower mining costs might increase the supply which would increase demand.

There might also be more demand for ceramics because LENR units might presumably be made of ceramic materials. There would certainly be more demand for the ceramics themselves and the materials they are made of.

Obviously this is all speculation because we don’t know what LENR process will become widely used and how it works. One thing is certain wide spread use of cold fusion will increase demand for certain materials but decrease demand for others. The effect it will have on commodities is going to be profound and it will change the economy beyond recognition.

2 Responses to Top Materials for Cold Fusion Work

Interesting question.
For coper it might be a tricky question for economist… note that part of the copper saved for grid and power plant, will be replaced by home generator using copper too… have to see the ballance.

about global consumption, note that first the emerging and poor countries will catchup to European level (maybe not to US level which is wasting much because lower population density, and history).
But I’m not so sure that the next growth phase linked to LENR will lead to more soncumption of matter. Of work, or intelligence, or computation, but things might became lighter, less bulky, like the Japanese have done for their own growth… very matter intensive.

we probably won’t own a car, but a robot taxi card. taxi will be lighted because no accident, and to make accident less dangerous… taxi will reduce need of trains , yet they will drive like trains…

note that my framework of future is based on Jed Rothwell “cold fusion and the future” whose key element is that energy freedom will allow robots having basik “chicken-like” intelligence… able to drive safely, work in pack, protect kids, bring coffee, hold luggages, understand people mood and few orders, help disabled and aged people…

This is quite realistic, especially if like me you noticed that computer science have not advanced much in Artificial Intelligence, yet everything moved faster outside. When AI will became popular, with current IT, it will be GREAT…

with the iron mass our modern car, you can share a lightweight LENR chicken taxi, a chicken LENR home-maid, … maybe civilization will reduce it’s weight.

I agree. Note vehicles might get bigger with more power but not heavier. Some emerging countries would get to the US level note Australia and Canada are already on the US level or exceeding. it. There might be more trains for long distance travel. Especially if high speed trains come in.